Alex Gabrielle

Halloween Fun

2010-11-20T18:24:00.000-08:00

My boyfriend and I dressed up this Halloween as the horse and the rooster. This was true to second identity. Photo by photo party shoot Halloween.

Photography

2010-09-12T21:20:00.000-07:00

I was thinking when I was standing in Elliott Erwitt's kitchen and looking at the most amazing photograph, that there was a reason I was here on this path. Maybe, I should stop doubting it and just go forward, believing that photography is what I want to do. I could stand here and look at the every job and think of the negatives of it all, but in truth, I just have to believe and do it. I love the photographic image and have always been fascinated by it.

I believe that humans are just souls and spirit. They hang onto the image, convincing themselves of their convictions, their beliefs. This is why the "American" culture is so hooked on the drug of the image. This is why photography is so unbelievable, it stops time, makes us feel immortal, for a second in time, our reflection, our image, and our belief of our underlying knowledge that we are only here for a second in time, living a tiny mortal existence, our soul and spirit grazing the earth for a second, before becoming part of the wind.

Photography will never die because it is what we remember, are remembered for. Film only remakes the past, poorly at times, great at others. It is the ancient way of story telling re-maid. Photography puts the truth in our face, even if it is flawed or changed. It makes us feel safe or shows us our deepest fears. Every photograph stops time and records what our mortal brain forgets, which often changes our memories to our own liking. This is why film has made us comatose, because it plays up to this fantasy of who we think we are, losing it in the story line, rather than simply showing us a photograph.

-Alex Gabrielle, July 2010

September 11th Remembering Those Who Suffered

2010-09-12T21:00:00.000-07:00

This was my first September, 11th in New York City and I found myself feeling the event that has so shaped the last ten years of our countries history closer to heart than ever before. My condolences go out to those families who lost love ones on 9/11, but also to those lost and killed in the pointless wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan that have followed. I love my country, my home, and most of all New York City. I hope to do my part to help move the world towards a more sustainable and healthy future. Peace on earth and goodwill to men.

Ruth Flowers - Grandma DJ Rocks Europe

2010-09-05T18:35:00.000-07:00

Known as Mamy Rock out on the dance floor, Ruth Flower's is the only 69 year old DJ rocking the floors of Europe with her beat. While attending a birthday party for her grandson at a nightclub in London, she fell in love with the energy of the dance floor. "It was so different from the parties I used too go when I was young" (Ruth Flowers, http://www.mamyrock.com/home.htm).

Her amazing story from grandma to hit DJ is an inspiration to anyone who thinks that old age can stop you from achieving your wildest dreams. With her hip style and smile, I couldn't stop smiling at her story. Rock it Mamy Rock!!!!

She even has an album out called Still Rocking, which is for sale on iTunes.

Check out her website, http://www.mamyrock.com/home.htm, or watch the clip from the BBC on YouTube, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEZ24pLIIyk.

2010-01-28T19:32:00.000-08:00

RICHARD

2010-01-28T19:28:00.000-08:00

2010-01-28T19:17:00.000-08:00

Some Older stuff

2009-10-29T07:00:00.000-07:00

From Left to right: Sofie, Poster for doorway, and The Thinker.

Week 2

2009-10-28T20:28:00.000-07:00

Jewels. From left to right: pastel charcoal drawing on paper and oil paint on paper.

Week 1

2009-10-22T19:05:00.000-07:00

Sketches of Meklah (Orion). From left to right: Pastel with charcoal on paper and oil paint on paper.

Independent Study Syllabus

2009-10-02T18:24:00.000-07:00

Purpose
When I look at my artwork over the last two semesters I see a fascination with the human form and mind. There is nothing like capturing in your artwork the essence of a person, especially when it is someone who is influential in your life. Over the summer I worked in New York City for six weeks in an art studio and then on film and photo shoots. I discovered that only intense study in the various art forms helps you find where you belong. Therefore, in my independent study this fall I would like to take the time to focus on the human figure. However, I would like to use this study to further my awareness of myself by drawing the people who are a part of my life. I hope that through this process I will discover why I am drawn to the arts and where I belong in the art world.

Along with this study I would like to take time to learn from some of the greatest painters. This would include Degas, Manet, Sargent, Vermier, and Hopper to name a few. By copying one of each of these artists’ works I hope to discover something new in their techniques to bring into my artwork. I will begin with Degas' because he has always fascinated me. Since I plan on focusing on sketching the person who I am studying before I paint them, I will incorporate the medium of pastel and charcoal into some of these sketches. Therefore, drawing from some of Degas' brilliant figure studies. At the end of the first two weeks I hope to come to a concise list of the other artists I will be copying over the course of the semester. I hope to spend time looking at the actual paintings at the MET in New York City. The copies must be to the scale of the original artwork. I will be using mainly Impressionist artists because they are in the direction which I have been going in my past art work.

Schedule
• Fourteen week semester
• 2 portrait paintings a week along with 5 sketches due Monday
• One copy of a major work due every other week on Monday

Materials
• Oil paints
• Charcoal and pastels
• Sketching pencils
• Camera

Idea
My idea is that I will compile ten individual studies of people over the semester. Everyday during the week I will sketch a person in my life. For example I will sketch my roommate because she is not only a good friend of mine but also plays a roll in my surroundings. I would also like to include a sketch of my horse for one of the weeks because although he is not a human, he is an active part of my life. Another example is when I return home for Thanksgiving this fall is to do a series of sketches of my family.

My goal through this process is to capture the essence of the person I am studying. This of course is a personal interpretation. At the end of the week I will do a final painting of this person. I will meet with my professor at the beginning of the week to discus my work. Meanwhile I will be recording my discoveries on a blog, showing drawings and paintings. I would like to add an academic aspect to the project. In short how do I see things and why is every interpretation different? I hope by the end of the semester to create a body of work and to know more about who I am.